Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture). The shimmering appearance is due to the triangular prism-like structure of the fibre, which allows cloth to refract incoming light at different angles, thus producing different colors.
Silk is produced by several insects; but, generally, only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacturing. There has been some research into other types of silk, which differ at the molecular level. Silk is mainly produced by the larvae of insects undergoing complete metamorphosis, but some insects, such as webspinners and raspy crickets, produce it throughout their lives. Silk production also occurs in Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants), silverfish, mayflies, thrips, leafhoppers, beetles, lacewings, fleas, flies, and midges. Other types of arthropods produce silk, most notably various arachnids, such as spiders. Reference: Wikipedia
Evening shoes, women’s, silk/leather, David Jones, Australia, c. 1930 Made by in Australia, Oceania, c 1930.
Reference: Museum of Applied Art and Sciences
A BLUE GROUND EMBROIDERED SILK FORMAL ‘DRAGON’ ROBE LATE QING DYNASTY the dark blue silk couched on the chest, back and each shoulder with five-clawed front-facing dragons each encircling a flaming pearl, the waist band with two confronted five-clawed dragons on the front and back and enclosed within a floral scroll patterned black edging, the two aprons each with further pairs of confronted dragons above cresting and foaming waves, bound in black kinran Length 137.5 cm, 54⅛ in.
Sold for 3,500 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2019
Two-piece evening dress, bodice and skirt, blue silk chiffon, lavishly trimmed with cream lace, pink silk ribbon rosebuds, metallic embroidery, and self-fabric ruffles and frills. Mounted on boned cream silk bodice lining and satin skirt lining 1905 (made)
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
An embroidered silk purse with jade bangle handles Constructed from two cream-colored panels decorated in bird and flower patterns reminiscent of rank badges, sewn together and suspended from a pair of bangles carved in a repeating bamboo-like raised ridges from stone of fairly even whitish hue. 2 7/8in (7.3cm) diam. of outer edge of bangles 7 1/2in (19cm) height of textile
Sold for US$ 2,295 (£ 1,780) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2019
Long and narrow silk purse, blue and brown with brown raised pattern. button fastening. Edged in blue silk. Inside is lined with a plain cream cloth.
Reference: © The Trustees of the British Museum
FIVE LENGTH OF VARIOUS WOVEN SILKS 19TH-20TH CENTURY The lot comprises a Ming-style pale yellow-ground silk, woven with five-clawed dragon roundels alternating with cloud scrolls and floral sprigs; two lengths of gold-ground silk woven with auspicious emblems including bats and lingzhi fungus; one length of red-ground silk similarly woven with auspicious emblems and a second red-ground silk length woven with five-clawed dragon roundels amongst clouds. Both lengths of red silk and the gold silk bear the same factory mark reading De Yuan Xing Ben Ji. Pale yellow-ground silk with dragon roundels: 368 x 29 ½ in. (935 x 75 cm.) Two lengths of gold-ground silk: 296 ½ x 29 ½ in. and 193 x 29 ½ in. (753 x 75 cm. and 490 x 75 cm.) Red-ground silk with auspicious emblems: 157 ½ x 29 ½ in. (400 x 75 cm.) Red-ground silk with dragons roundels: 221 x 29 ½ in. (561 x 75 cm.)
Sold for GBP 6,250 at Christie’s in 2018
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